Author's note: I'm sorry to say that this journey is almost coming to an end. Just a couple of chapters left ): Well, enjoy this one! Thanks for reading(:

Life without you

Is like losing air

One moment I can breathe

Then I can't if you're not there

I wake up to Santana opening her closet door. I hadn't noticed I was in her room. She picks out some clothes and sets it down on the floor. When she closes it, the metal wheels screech against the rail and she curses under breath. I push myself up with my elbows and she sighs.

"Sorry babe, I didn't mean to wake you up." she apologizes and grabs her clothes, then heads to the bathroom. I open my mouth to say something, but she walks in before words could come out. Maybe she's still frustrated. I am too. Everyone is.

It's almost eleven. I got up when Santana did to make the kids breakfast, but there aren't any eggs or milk, so I knock on Santana's door and ask her if she can drive me to the store.

"What?" she mumbles from the inside of her room. I tell her again, but then the door swings open.

"What's wrong?" she asks and slides her finger on the edge of her bottom lip to take off some lip gloss. I look at her from head to toe and my eyes widen. She's wearing black shorts with lace leggings and a shirt that shows her cleavage way too much.

"Are they out there?" she asks and pulls me inside. "I don't want them to see me like this."

"Where are you going?" I ask and cross my arms to my chest.

"To a job interview."

"Where?"

"At the bar across the street."

"Santana you're seventeen and there are weird people out there you can't be working at a place like that."

"It's fifteen bucks an hour, Brittany. Adriana is in the hospital. Who's going to get milk in the fridge?"

"I can-"

"No. I know what you're going to say."

I don't respond, instead, I sigh in frustration.

"I'll be back in an hour." she tells me and kisses my cheek.

"Santana-"

She slams her bedroom door and I shut my eyes.

Deep breaths, Brittany. Calm down.

I know how to solve this problem. If only she'd let me.

"I got the job. He wanted me to freshen up and go back." she informs me, but I pretend not to listen and continue washing the dishes. She opens the fridge and grabs a water bottle.

"Can you support me at least?"

"Yeah, sure, because I love it when guys drown in their own drool while they look at your cleavage. You know what they can do to you? They can hurt you, and abuse you, and make you drink something with drugs in it!"

She leans against the fridge and closes her eyes as I continue to speak.

"They can do so many things to you, Santana. You're gorgeous and I love it when you dress like that, but only if it's for me and we're alone in my house. Not with a bunch horny guys. I know it sounds selfish, but it's true."

She looks up and stares into my eyes. They pierce into my body like an acupuncture procedure. I can see she needs help so desperately. A young girl her age should be out living life like a teen, not a mother, but that's how deep her love for her family goes. She'll do anything and everything necessary.

"So, I don't get a 'good job, Santana' or a 'congratulations you-"

"Congratulations, my girlfriend has a job at a bar. Yeah, let's celebrate." I reply sarcastically and throw the wet cloth in my hand on the counter.

"Well, maybe your girlfriend needs this job to support her family!"

"I want to help you, Santana, but you won't let me!" I retort as she stands before me. She's angry and hurt. My chest is heaving. My head is pounding. This isn't how it's supposed to be. Her eyes stay glued to the floor and I shake my head, not wanting to discuss anything any further. Then, I race to the bathroom, lock the door and slam my back against it.

Breathe

Breathe

Breathe

I shut my eyes and listen to the sounds surrounding me. Like she taught me. The leaky faucet. Squeaky door.

For almost ten minutes, that's what I do. Now, I'm calm. As I walk out, Hailey is sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall.

"You guys are fighting, huh?" she asks gloomily and plays with her fingers.

"No, we're both just tired." I reply and sit down next to her.

"So why don't you sleep?"

"It's not that simple..."

"I know she's tired of taking care of us and living here. She hates it here."

"She hates that you guys are living here. She hates that we barely have food in the fridge, not that she takes care of you, but guess what?"

Her eyes lock with mine and I smile.

"I'll fix it."

"How?"

"It's a surprise! But, I do want to go shopping. You like shopping, right?"

She nods repeatedly and stands up to let Michael and Alissa know. My heart fill with happiness, but then I remember my argument with Santana and sigh dismally. Her big, brown, hurt eyes take over my mind as I lean back against the wall. I can fix this. I can take care of her and her family. All I need is her to let me.

After going to the mall, grocery store and Bed, Bath and Beyond, we make it home. It's almost 5 pm and Santana still hasn't arrived back home. My insides twist and turn worriedly. I should have stopped her; I should have held her captive and begged her not to return.

Suddenly, I hear the click clack of heels against the wooden floor. Then, they stop and a thump is heard from the corner of the living room. I continue fixing the items in the fridge, not wanting to start another argument. Minutes later, her structure appears at the entrance of the kitchen. Without make up. Without heels. Without short shorts and revealing clothing. There she is...the woman I fell in love with. I don't mean for her to sound older than she is or anything like that, but it's true. She has come a long way and has earned the title of being called a woman. A strong, moving, respectful young woman that aspires to be something so great and powerful. She makes me proud and I'm glad I get to call her mine. If someone were to ask me when I fell in love with her, I'd have no answer. Falling in love isn't something that happens over night. It's something that happens gradually. With every smile, laugh, glance, and touch; you fall harder and it's a process that can no longer be controlled by the human body. You become weak to your knees and your heart beats at a faster pace that not even I can explain. That's love and no one has a right to judge it.

As seconds pass by, I feel her eyes bore into every inch of skin on my body. She's guilty and hurt. I can feel it in the air.

"Brittany," she begins and steps a little closer. Her arms cross into the large hoodie that seems to be too big, and her sweat pants just make her look so small.

"I won't go back," she says weakly and my chest no longer feels heavy. "but please don't stay mad at me. It hurts too much."

My breathing begins to speed up and I can feel the numbness in my body slowly start to vanish. Her eyes lock with mine and a tear streams down her precious cheek.

I breathe out and shake my head as my arms wrap around her. Her head rests on my chest as her arms pull me in by my waist.

"I have an idea." I state softly and she looks at me curiously.

"Come live with me. When we pick up Adriana, we can take her over and get everyone settled there."

"Brittany..." she breathes out and loosens from the grip that I have on her wrist.

"Santana, let me take care of you..." I whisper weakly and pull her back in. Her eyes look deeply into mine. She's reading me. Memorizing every definition of every word, chapter, and metaphor that my eyes write just for her. Only her.